Pimpri-Chinchwad, 23rd April 2026: Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal CorporationтАЩs internal inquiry into the controversial payment of contractor bills has reportedly found that 14 supplementary budget notes used to clear dues worth 60 crore were approved violating the prescribed norms, raising serious questions over the process followed by civic officials.
According to the preliminary report submitted to Municipal Commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi on Tuesday, the notes relied upon for releasing payments had neither been approved by the General Body nor by the Standing Committee, as required under municipal rules.
The controversy centres around alleged revisions made in the 2025-26 revised budget and the 2026-27 original budget through supplementary notes bearing signatures of BJP and NCP corporators. Based on these changes, contractor bills were reportedly cleared by the accounts department.
Under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act, any transfer, reduction or alteration of budgetary allocations requires formal approval of the Standing Committee or the General Body. However, the inquiry is said to have found that the 14 supplementary notes used in this case did not receive such mandatory approvals.
The issue was first raised by Standing Committee Chairman Abhishek Barne, who had publicly questioned the payments. However, political circles expressed surprise after the Commissioner reportedly shared only a brief five-line summary of the inquiry findings with him.
Barne said powers to take direct action against the Chief Accounts and Finance Officer do not rest with the Municipal Commissioner and only the state government can act against him. He added that a final report is expected within 10 days and would be forwarded to the state government with recommendations for action.
NCP Corporator Sandeep Waghere demanded criminal cases against contractors, corporators who signed the notes, and officials from the accounts department allegedly involved in clearing the payments.
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